Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 196 Arrival in New York

The next day, Lin Yan, Tang Liuqian, and Yang Xi'en, accompanied by Charles and nearly ten servants, flew back to New York.

Upon arrival, Tang Liuqian, still concerned about his father's illness, accompanied Lin Yan to his villa to pay a special visit to Elder Dan. In the quiet study, Elder Dan, as always, exuded composure. He reassured Tang Liuqian, clearly stating that Mr. Tang Bingyuan's health was steadily improving under the influence of the medicinal pills and that he was out of danger. Hearing this reassurance, Tang Liuqian finally felt relieved. After sitting for a short while, he took his leave.

Back in his New York apartment, the house was quiet. Only the flickering fire in the fireplace could be heard. Tang Liuqian took off his coat and sank wearily into the living room sofa, relaxing his body. His thoughts, however, drifted back to his recent trip to the West Coast. The snowy scenery of Lake Tahoe, the laughter of his friends, that bloody night, and the sudden annihilation of the Brown family all intertwined. He was staring out the window, lost in thought, not even noticing his father emerge from the bedroom.

After resting for a while, Tang Bingyuan looked much better. Seeing his youngest son sitting alone on the sofa in a daze, he walked over slowly, sat down next to him, and gently patted his shoulder.

"Liuqian, you're back? Did you have a good time on your trip?" Tang Bingyuan's voice was full of concern.

Tang Liuqian snapped out of his reverie and turned to his father. His face lacked the excitement of returning from a journey; instead, it held a barely perceptible seriousness. He hesitated for a moment, then asked casually, "Dad, I've been reading the newspapers these past few days, and they've been reporting on the Brown family in California. Have you... seen it?"

Tang Bingyuan's face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this. His youngest son had always been more concerned with business and family affairs, paying little attention to news of political scandals. Why was he asking about this as soon as he returned? It must be because the matter had become so big, almost common knowledge, that it had caught his attention. "It's certainly caused quite a stir; it's hard not to know. But why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"It's nothing," Tang Liuqian looked away, trying to keep his tone relaxed. "It's just that I met a member of a collateral branch of their family back in school, so I vaguely remember him. I was a bit surprised to see that such a big thing happened to their family."

Tang Bingyuan was no ordinary man. He had navigated the treacherous waters of the business world for decades, weathering countless storms. Although he wasn't directly involved in politics, he was intimately familiar with the complex web of relationships between the two, and he knew all the tricks and tactics of politics like the back of his hand. He nodded slightly, his tone calm yet revealing a profound understanding of the world: "Liu Qian, anyone with eyes can see that the Brown family has offended someone they shouldn't have, someone they absolutely cannot afford to mess with."

He paused, then continued his analysis, his voice low but each word clear: "Think about it, how many years of the family's secrets could be so thoroughly exposed overnight, leaving nothing out? The power and influence behind this are truly extraordinary. In ordinary conflicts, opponents might at most seize on one or two weaknesses, but to have everything dug up like this only means that the other side already knows them inside and out. The reason they didn't act before was simply because they hadn't been provoked and were too lazy to bother. Once they are truly angered, it will be a thunderous strike, giving them no chance to breathe."

Tang Liuqian listened silently. His father's analysis subtly corroborated what he had witnessed that night, making things clearer in his mind and allowing him to more deeply feel the silent yet powerful force of the Lin family. He didn't speak again, but simply nodded to indicate that he understood.

In the days following his return from Lake Tahoe, Lin Yan's pace of life noticeably slowed down. He recalled Professor Fu's advice about "following human relationships" and decided to begin by experiencing the life of an ordinary student.

That morning, he used his divine sense to convey an instruction to Alexander Winster, who was busy at another base: "Alexander, find me an ordinary high school in New York and arrange for my enrollment. It doesn't need to be top-tier, just ordinary will do."

Alexander responded quickly; less than half an hour later, a respectful voice sounded directly in his mind: "Young Master, I have already made a preliminary assessment. The academic year in American high schools is already halfway over, and most schools will soon be on Christmas and winter break. I will ensure everything is arranged properly before the start of the next semester, so please rest assured."

Lin Yan hummed in agreement and ended the telepathic communication. With the school matter settled, the next issue was his attire. He glanced down at his well-tailored, high-quality casual clothes, which clearly didn't suit the image of an ordinary high school student. Should he go shopping at those teen clothing stores? He simply had no interest in it.

So he summoned his butler, Charles.

"Charles," Lin Yan instructed, "buy some everyday clothes, shoes, socks, and other accessories suitable for American high school students, based on my measurements. Keep the style as ordinary and sociable as possible, nothing to draw attention to." He added, "You should know the sizes."

Charles bowed slightly: "Understood, young master. I will select suitable brands and styles and prepare them for you as soon as possible."

Lin Yan nodded in satisfaction. Having a capable Golden Core cultivator like Charles as his butler was indeed a relief. In his opinion, spending time shopping was far less worthwhile than doing something more interesting.

For example, playing with Xiaoqi.

With a thought, a fluffy, snowball-like white puppy leaped out of the void and nuzzled affectionately against his trouser leg. "Brother, you didn't let me be with you for your birthday! Aren't you my favorite person?"

Lin Yan bent down and hugged Xiao Qi, gently scratching its chin. "Okay, brother will only spend time with you lately, alright!" The little guy purred contentedly. He carried Xiao Qi to the window, looking at the winter street scene of New York, and felt a vague anticipation for the "ordinary" high school life that was about to begin.